Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said the state will honour and celebrate Nigerlites who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers.
The governor stated this at a grand reception organised in honour of the retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad.
Governor Umaru Bago described Justice Musa Dattijo as a very nice and straight-forward man who has excelled in his chosen career, adding that he has done well and deserves all accolades.
He expressed concern over the inability of successive governments to immortalise or celebrate prominent Nigerlites who have made the state proud, pointing out that his administration will change the narrative.
He then called on other sons and daughters of the state to always strive to make the state proud through selfless and outstanding service to the nation.
He equally used the medium to call on all Nigerlites not to be obstacles to their own progress but to contribute their quota in any way possible as well as support the present administration in its developmental strides.
The farmer governor assured that his government would stop at nothing to ensure that the state was greatly transformed to compete favourably with other states.
In his remarks, Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad said he was humbled by the honour done to him by the state government.
The elated celebrant, who went down memory lane from when he started his legal profession as a magistrate, called on the judiciary not to allow the judiciary to be compromised, as any society that lacks a just system will never have peace.
He equally called on all and sundry to support the governor towards achieving his vision for the state.
Other speakers at the event were Justice of Appeal Court, Justice Amina Wambai, Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Abdulmalik, former minister of foreign affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, and the State Attorney General, who doubles as Commissioner for Justice, Nasiru Mua'zu.
They showered encomiums on Justice Musa Dattijo for his selfless service to the state and country at large.
Friends and colleagues of the retired Justice also took turns in paying tribute to Justice Datijjo and the immense role he played in the country's judicial system.
The social gathering was also attended by an array of senior advocates of Nigeria who are Nigerlites, serving, and former political leaders, among others.
The event was climaxed with the launch of a book, which is a collection of legal materials, landmark decisions, tributes, and valedictory speeches by the celebrant and is dedicated to him.
The Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said that his administration will engage the youths in the state meaningfully through sporting activities.
The governor, who was represented by the state commissioner for youths and sports development, Hon. Ibrahim Gulbin Boka, stated this yesterday at the finals of the state governor's cup football competition, held at the Federal Polytechnic Bida mini stadium.
He said that sports are now no longer leisure but business, ensuring that the state government will continue to provide a conducive atmosphere for sports development in the state, which will in turn bring about youth development.
He added that the state will use sports to curb youth restiveness in the state and to also take them away from all forms of social vices so that they will be beneficial to themselves, their families, and society in general, urging them to embrace the opportunity offered them by the state government to better their lives through sports.
The governor also congratulated the Bida local government for emerging as the champions of the 2023 edition of the state Governor's Cup football competition, tagged Bida 2023.
In his remarks, the state commissioner for land and survey, Barr. Maurice Bello Magaji, underscored the importance of sports generally to the physical and mental well-being of an individual, particularly youths.
He explained that sports, football in particular, was a unifying factor that speaks only one language, saying the administration of Farmer Governor Mohammed Umar Bago will continue to make sports a priority due to its vital role in uniting the people.
The state commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Hon. Hamidu Mu'azu Jantabo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Aliyu Abubakar Mila, expressed delight over the success of the tournament.
He assured that the ministry, which is the financier of the competition, will continue to provide the necessary support to both the organisers and the 25 local governments to ensure that the tournament is staged every year.
In a post-match reaction, the Chairman of Munya Local Government, Hon. Aminu Najume, said it was his wish that Munya would win the tournament for the first time in the history of the local government, but he appreciated God for making them reach the finals. Munya qualified from the group stage as one of the best losers.
Bida Local Government defeated the hard-fighting Munya local government team to emerge as the winners of the 2023 edition of the Niger State Governor's Cup football competition, which is also the first edition of the Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago administration.
The tournament is the biggest grassroots football competition organised by the Niger State Football Association (NSFA), under the leadership of Comrade Ahmed Yusuf Fresh.
Medals, trophies, and cash rewards were presented to players and teams that were outstanding during the tournament, while various individuals who contributed to the success of the tournament were also recognised.
